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BINTUMANI FORUM

After all, if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hard-working white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves - Barack Obama

Many have either wondered, or asked the question, “What is new about the National Grand Coalition?” It is a fair question considering how many political outfits spring up every election cycle only to either evaporate to smithereens under the heat, or disappear into oblivion immediately after the elections. It is only fair that this question be answered. I am going to attempt answering this question as a mere supporter of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), not as an official spokesperson of the party.

In their bid to question the validity of any claim to “newness” by the National Grand Coalition, people have pointed to the fact that KKY, Dennis Bright, Joe Demby and others who are now leading the NGC, all came from the SLPP. In other words, they are “political migrants” from another party. That, they argue, makes them old politicians who have been in the game of politics. Well, it is not a sound argument to make that because people come from other parties, the party they now form is not new. That is a conflation of individuals and the institutions they form.

We may need to remind ourselves that both SLPP and APC were “new” at some point in history but none was formed by “new” humans from Mars or Jupiter, but by people from other political dispensations; people who had dabbled in politics before forming the “new” SLPP or APC. The SLPP was formed in 1951 by combining the Sierra Leone Organization Society which was founded in 1946 in the Protectorate, and Lamina Sankoh’s Freetown People’s Party founded in the Colony. Siaka Stevens left the People’s National Party to form the “Elections before Independence” movement which later became the All People’s Congress in 1960. Those who joined him in the “new” party were people who had been members of SLPP and other political outfits. Yet, in 1960, APC was a “new” party. Thus, it is not so much the individuals and their past affiliations that make the party new, but something more sublime: the culture and philosophy of the dispensation that is being created.

Besides the name which is obviously new, the National Grand Coalition is new for other reasons: While both the SLPP and APC are forever tethered to the apron of region and tribe, the NGC is tethered only to the Nation. Their tribe is National Interest and their region, Sierra Leone. This is the kind of “new” we should celebrate. It is the beginning of a new way of seeing Sierra Leone; a new way of governing Sierra Leone; a new way of treating our young as Sierra Leoneans not as Mende, Temne, Limba, Fula, Krio, Loko, and the like. It is the road to a Nation, not just a Country. Tribalism has been the sable vehicle of our graft, corruption, and underdevelopment. I hate violence and dictatorship, and by implication, SLPP and APC. But even there, I derive no pleasure from the way SLPP and APC, the two oldest political parties in our country, have been effectively reduced into fiefdoms ruled by their feudal lords, Maada Bio and Ernest Koroma respectively.

Democracy is not only an abstract/theoretical construct; it is objectified in the activities, policies, processes, cultures, and ideas of political parties, and the governments that emerge from them. When the culture of a party or a government is stifling, the country is suffocated.

Another thing that is new about the NGC is that it is the first political party in recent history in my country to present a Presidential Candidate who has used his office to bring jobs and development to his native country before asking the country to hire him as their President. Kandeh Yumkella has done something for the country whose mandate he now seeks.

Do people miss the class act of the NGC during the launch at the national stadium? The peace, calm, decency, and violence-free nature of the event is another “new” worth celebrating.

I may not like the politics of lawlessness and corruption which both SLPP and APC exhibit, but it gives me no twinge of schadenfreude to witness the ritual of self-destruction both parties are engaged in. We can’t wait to inhale the fresh air of the new political culture.

I don't think Sheikh is a member yet. I think what he is doing is rally intellectuals to the KKY fold who in turn will rally other people within their spheres of influence. I heard he has an axe to grind with Ernest Koroma. From my observations, most supporters of SUK's post on Facebook are disgruntled Muslims who think 2018 should be the turn of Muslims to rule SL after ATK in 1996. These are the people who have been sympathetic to Sam Sumana's predicament. They feel EBK being a Christian should have taken the sentiments of the Muslims into consideration when choosing a flagbearer. That is one reason I believe the elections will a bit tough for Samura.

There's nothing in SUK's write up that's worth going ballistic about. He pointed out real facts.
What's of a great interest about the NGC is the fact that it derives its support from all corners of the country and that the absence of the 'ocultic' culture inherently present in the two oldest parties is something every well-meaning Sierra Leonean should celebrate. We've witnessed, time and again how straightforward leaders have been arm-twisted to protect the interest of their parties and not the nation.
There are hidden rules in these parties that will always make it difficult for their leaders to prudently follow true agendas that run contrary to the agendas of their political parties.
The NGC is new not with individuals leading it, but with the ideals and the agendas.
In the NGC, no one will be forced to throw away any commitment they have for the country.

Bra Eddie, talk is cheap they say. I hope KKY will walk the walk if by accident the NGC takes the reins post 2018 elections. The easiest way the NGC can win the elections is by playing the religion card capitalizing on the major weaknesses of the APC and SLPP flagbearerships. But this requires steel balls on the part of the NGC. By playing the religion card, only Kamaraimba will be a threat to KKY.

Originally Posted by Torkpoi TolongboI don't think Sheikh is a member yet. I think what he is doing is rally intellectuals to the KKY fold who in turn will rally other people within their spheres of influence. I heard he has an axe to grind with Ernest Koroma. From my observations, most supporters of SUK's post on Facebook are disgruntled Muslims who think 2018 should be the turn of Muslims to rule SL after ATK in 1996. These are the people who have been sympathetic to Sam Sumana's predicament. They feel EBK being a Christian should have taken the sentiments of the Muslims into consideration when choosing a flagbearer. That is one reason I believe the elections will a bit tough for Samura.

When one reads of mass defections of APCers to the SLPP, one thinks, "OK, so Bra Bio has been donating a few bags of rice" plus there is the army of the mass unemployed youths etc etc but just read Sheikh Umarr Kamarah's take on the "tolongbo" culture here and see if mass desertion is possible in Port Loko :

I agree with you that for once the religion card can be played, but don't forget that it was the Fullahs that brought Islam to Shierra Leone which means that Samura Kamara's Fullah running mate is a very strong card indeed...

"In their bid to question the validity of any claim to “newness” by the National Grand Coalition, people have pointed to the fact that KKY, Dennis Bright, Joe Demby and others who are now leading the NGC, all came from the SLPP. In other words, they are “political migrants” from another party. That, they argue, makes them old politicians who have been in the game of politics."

So what is wrong with being a "political migrant" especially when one migrates from the SLPP?

About a couple of weeks ago a fellow who goes by the moniker Momodu Banklaneh accused me of "changing political parties without any firm political philosophical bent". I laughed so hard I felt like a Trump supporter. And just when I thought it wasn't going to get any worse, the fellow made it clear that "I will rather remain an astute member of the SLPP". I almost die laughing on the outside but crying on the inside because I know better. I know the established political parties have philosophies but only in theory but never been practiced. I know how tribalism has been used as a tool to divide and brought the worst out of the people. Even here at Bintumani you see it everyday when forumites accuse members of other tribes as never held higher positions in government.

Finally, my political philosophy is very simple..."do to others as you would have them do to you". I have spent my money on KKY and will support him all the way. If he wins and follows the footsteps of the rotten parties, I will find someone else to support.

I was really generous when I told you that you had no firm philosophical bent. I really believe that when it comes to politics, you are perpetual doffer with very low human instincts. You are an immoral miscreant with a destructive viscera that is antithetical to progress in any decent society.

KL follows people and not ideas because KL is bereft of an iota of human decency. He supported Tejan Kabbah because Tejan Kabbah's father hailed from the North. Ernest Koroma came to power and pursued a policy of Northernization that marginalized Southeasterners. That was music to KL's ears allowing him to jump on the APC train like a rat.

Now comes Kandeh Yumkella. KL immediately changes his red kaftan and jumps on the NGC train. Is that a man with any firm political philosophical bent? Please don't get me started, I just woke up.

“The political party is the fulcrum of Democratic governance and political parties are built on ideologies, which every political party member must subscribe to. Any fellow who constantly changes political parties can be rightly tagged (ideologically) unreliable. An unreliable politician is not worth the trust of the people he/she is seeking to "serve".” (Chidi Anthony Opara - Source)

Anybody who support Kandeh yumkela who was a boy in unido and claims to be d boss of unido to fool us in slpp is crazy!Kandeh will not even get 5 percent of d vote. nar Mada we want. U can take it to d bank. If they deny Slpp this time, we will say no no no no!!!!!!!!General Mada Bio and Madam Fatima Bio: the winning ticket out of hell for sarra lone!!!!!

Dis cornelius hamelberg! He looks like another opposition to mada bio. We don't want borku talk talk. We want bio and nothing more. That is why people should not name their children after a hamburger: hamelberg. ha! Paopa, saralone go better.

Well correct. I miswrote. U are a good man. But u have some people here who think they are funny attacking my general bio. He is the people’s general and will clean d country. I am watching spectator and KL. I don’t trust these NGC and APC boyz. But mass will be a full bag for there heads.

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